Cases: Severe Burns to Scalp Caused by Hair Bleaching

In 2006, a 29-year-old office receptionist suffered severe burns to her scalp after a hair bleaching treatment at Joseph's Hair Design went wrong. The salon used Oxycur Platin without performing a strand test and placed the claimant under a dryer for 30-40 minutes, leading to a full thickness chemical burn. The claimant experienced temporary loss of confidence, a permanent large U-shaped scar, and hair loss, requiring a skin graft from her buttock and 'tissue expander' treatment to encourage hair growth. The salon did not follow the manufacturer's instructions, which included avoiding additional heat sources and performing a strand test. The claimant was awarded £17,500 in damages, with £15,000 for general damages, including psychological impact, and £2,500 for special damages, such as loss of earnings and future expenses. The case highlighted the importance of following product instructions and the potential severe consequences of negligence in hair treatment procedures.